CFMEU - Mining and Energy Division
Who's Who
Here's some biographical information about our full time national officials.
 | Andrew VickersGeneral Secretary |
 | Tony MaherGeneral President |
 | Wayne McAndrewGeneral Vice President |
 | Ian MurrayGeneral Vice President |
Andrew Vickers
Andrew began his working life at the Goonyella Mine in Queensland in 1971 where he worked as a Cadet Mine Surveyor and as a Washplant Operator.
His union involvement began in 1973, when at 18 years of age he was elected Goonyella Branch Secretary of the Queensland Colliery Employees Union (QCEU). It was the first of many honorary positions he held.
In 1981 Andrew was elected to the full time position of President of the Queensland District of the Miners' Federation. As President he was the union’s principal advocate and chief negotiator, dealing with all mining companies (including Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Anglo Coal and Xstrata) and the Queensland State Government, on all matters affecting union members and mining communities.
During his time as Queensland District President, Andrew served on the Coal Mines Safety and Health Advisory Council. He was a member of the working party which developed the Queensland Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 2001 and he was on the steering group which oversaw the review of the Mines Inspectorate in Queensland.
In 2006 Andrew was elected to the national position of General Vice President of the CFMEU’s Mining and Energy Division, and he was elected General Secretary of the Division in 2008.
Andrew serves the union as:
- Director and Chairman of the United Colliery Joint Venture
- Chairman of the Mineworkers Trust
- Director and Deputy Chairman of the Coal Mining Industry Long Service Leave Corporation
- Director of the Maritime Mining and Power Credit Union (MMPCU)
- Chairman of the Mining Sector of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions, ICEM, to which the CFMEU is affiliated.
- Union representative on the steering group developing the National Mine Safety Framework (NMSF)
Tony Maher
Tony Maher has been General President of the Mining and Energy Division of the CFMEU since August 1998. Prior to that he held various positions in one of the CFMEU’s predecessor unions, the Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association (FEDFA). He has been an organiser and industrial officer and has many years experience running cases in industrial tribunals on behalf of members.
As General President Tony had carriage of many major disputes waged against mineworkers under the now discredited ‘Workchoices’ legislation of the Howard Government between 1998 and 2007. These disputes included Hunter Valley No.1, Mt Thorley, Gordonstone and Blair Athol. As a direct result of that experience he led the Union's determined political campaign to oust the Howard Government in 2007.
In 2004, Tony was elected to the position of CFMEU National President making him the Chair of the National Executive and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the CFMEU. His responsibilities as a National leader of the CFMEU include dealing with:
- issues of common concern across all the Divisions of the CFMEU and the industries they represent
- the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
- the Commonwealth Government.
Since 2006 Tony has led the Union's work on Climate Change. In 2008 he was appointed Chair of the ACTU Climate Group. He has been appointed to the Commonwealth Government's Carbon Capture and Storage Taskforce and the Prime Minister's Energy Efficiency Advisory Group. In 2010 he was appointed to represent unions on the Federal Government Roundtable on Climate Change.
Tony is a member of the International Executive Committee of ICEM, to which the CFMEU is affiliated. He is also a Vice President of ICEM'S Asia Pacific region.
Wayne McAndrew
Wayne started in the coal mining industry as a mine mechanic at the Lithgow Valley Colliery (also Hermitage), in NSW, in 1975.
Always an active unionist, in 1976 he was elected to his first honorary Lodge position for the Australian Metal Workers Union (AMWU) and continued his representative role when he commenced work at Clarence Colliery in 1980.
In 1983 he transferred to the Federated Mine Mechanics Association (FMMA) and in 1985 became their Western District Secretary.
Following the amalgamation of the Miners Federation and FMMA in 1990 to form the United Mineworkers Federation (UMFA), Wayne was elected District Vice President of the Union’s Western District. This was his first full time position.
When the NSW South and Western Districts (including Broken Hill) of the United Mineworkers amalgamated to form a single South Western District in 1998, Wayne was elected District Senior Vice President. In 2003 he was elected District President.
In 2009 Wayne was elected to the national position of General Vice President of the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division.
Wayne has maintained an active role in his local community and has held numerous positions:
- Founding member Lithgow Hospital Promotions Committee
- Lithgow Public Hospital Board Director
- Mid Western Area Health Services Board Director, Deputy Chair then Acting Chair
- Lithgow Community Private Hospital Board Director, Deputy Chair then Chair
- Three Tree Lodge Aged Care Facility Board Director, Deputy Chair then Chair
- He is a Lithgow City Councillor and represents Council in Mining Related Council Meetings
- He is the Branch President of the Lithgow Branch of the ALP
Industry representation:
- Director of Coal Services Pty Ltd (formally the Joint Coal Board)
- Past representative, NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council
- Member, NSW Mining Ministerial Advisory Committee
Ian Murray
Ian served his fitter’s apprenticeship working for Peko Wallsend in the 1960s and was elected as a full time union official in 1978. His first elected position was as a state organiser for the Metal Workers Union (AMWU).
Until 1991, serving as state organiser, he was primarily responsible for representing the interests of tradesmen employed in the coal industry, including appearing in all courts and tribunals relevant to the industry.
In 1991 he resigned from the AMWU to join the Miners’ Federation, a predecessor of the CFMEU Mining and Energy Division. This was the era of massive union restructuring in Australia, and his move supported a rank and file decision to form a single union in the coal mining industry.
Ian has continued to represent the interests of coal mining workers in elected positions:
- Northern District Vice President 1991 - 2005
- Northern District President 2005 - 2009
- In 2009 Ian was elected to the national position of General Vice President of the CFMEU'S Mining and Energy Division.
Ian has served on a number of industry boards and committees and is especially interested in safety and training issues. He has represented the union on:
- Mine safety reviews of 1982, 1998 and 2002
- Vocational Training Tribunal
- Vocational Training Appeal Tribunal
- NSW Mining Industry Training Advisory Board
- NSW Mining Industry Skills Association
- National Mining Industry Training Advisory Board
- NSW Competency Board
- NSW Mining Industry Safety Advisory Council
He is a keen amateur angler and has been the president of his local club on the Central Coast of NSW for the past twenty years.
